AUD/USD -Sharp Losses for Aussie, Key US Reports Next

The Australian dollar has posted sharp losses on Friday, as AUD/USD trades at 0.6880 in the European session. On the release front, Australian Home Loans posted a strong gain of 1.8%, but this strong reading couldn’t stop the Aussie’s tumble. In the US, there four key releases today, with reports covering inflation, retail sales and consumer confidence. Traders should be prepared for the possibility of further movement from AUD/USD during the North American session.

The Australian dollar has gone from bad to worse in the month of January, with the minor currency plunging some 400 points in 2016. AUD/USD is currently trading at its lowest level since September 2004, and the downward spiral could continue. Recent events in China have weakened the Aussie, with the Chinese stock market meltdown and the devaluation of the Chinese yuan. Geopolitical tensions in Korea, the Persian Gulf and Indonesia have also contributed to significant movement away from minor currencies like the Aussie, towards the safe-haven US dollar. December employment data from Australia was decent, but failed to stop the Aussie’s slide. Employment Change declined by 1000, but this was much better than the estimate of 11,000. The unemployment rate remained steady at 5.8%. With investors remaining jittery about China and geopolitical tensions, there is little appetite for risk and the Australian dollar’s descent could continue.

Is the Federal Reserve planning another rate hike? The Fed raised interest rates in December for the first time in nine years, and hinted that this move was the first of a series in 2016. Not surprisingly, this has led to intense market speculation as to the timing of another rate hike. Many experts are forecasting another hike in March, contingent on a strong US economy. The Fed has hinted that it could raise rates up to four times in 2016, but experts like Chase Chief Economist Anthony Chan argue that is an unlikely scenario. A rate hike in late January is not considered likely, coming so soon after the December move. A hike by the Fed in March is more probable, contingent of course on a strong US economy. Although the economy is in good shape, one major area of concern is the inflation picture. Inflation levels have not kept up with other economic indicators and remain at low levels. The minutes of the December meeting indicated that some Fed members strongly considered voting against a rate hike due to weak inflation. Another concern is a lack of wage growth, despite a robust labor market. This was underscored by the last Average Hourly Earnings report, which came in at a flat 0.0% in December. The Fed will be keeping a close eye on inflation and wage growth data before reaching a decision to raise rates for a second time.

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Kenny Fisher joined OANDA in 2012 as a Currency Analyst. Kenny writes a daily column about current economic and political developments affecting the major currency pairs, with a focus on fundamental analysis. Kenny began his career in forex at Bendix Foreign Exchange in Toronto, where he worked as a Corporate Account Manager for over seven years.

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This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities.

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